Signal for automobiles.



D. J. LANEHART.

' SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FlLED M'AY16.1916.

memea Feb. 6,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

0.1. LANEHART.

. SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBELES.

AFPLLCATION FlLED MAY 16, 1916.

Paiented Feb. 6,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- with the result that a 'erator of a following vehicle DAVID J. LANEHART, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed May 16, 1916. Serial No. 97,834.

b ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID J. LANEHART, a citizen of the United States. residing at Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

'. invention relates to new and useful cincnts in signals for automobiles or ater vehicles.

nany sections of the country where regulations are enforced, operators of n; 3 vehicles requiredto signify their intention when turning a corner or when turning the vehicle so that operators of vehicles either in the rear or approaching and pedestrians may he advised of the intention of the operator desiring to turn the machine casualty of any kind is avoided. Such signals are usually given by the movement of the hand and arm and are not always observable, particularly by the operator of a following vehicle.

The present invention provides a signal which is readily observable'both by night and day and which may be seen by the opas well as by the driver of an approaching machine or'vehicle, said signal being illuminated by night and embodying an electric lamp which included in a circuit that is closed when the signal arm is, thrown outward into signaling position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a signal of the character specified which may be applied to any make or type of motor vehicle with but very little if any change in the construction thereof.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a signal of this character which will be compact, simple and economical in construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the draw ings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 1

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a signal embodying my improvements, illustrating one way in. which the same may be applied or secured to the automobile or other motor an: A

. :2 a central vertical section of the Specification of Letters Patent.

signal, with the signal arm ticular description of the disposed hollow and Patented Feb. 6, 191 7.

up, the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section, taken on the plane indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the signal arm down and the circuit through the lamp closed.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section, taken on the plane indicated by the dotted lines 55 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating a modified form of casing for the lamp.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, section, of a modification of the handle.

Referring to the drawings for a more par- 7 invention, and in which like parts are designated by like characters throughout the several views, it will be seen that the signal comprises a substantially quadrant-shaped casing 1, which is open at the top or outer side and closed at the bottom by the wall or strip 9 extending between the bottom edges of the side walls or members 3, and also closed'at its inner edge by the removable plate 4, slidably held in place between the inwardly bent lugs 5 and 6 and a pair of vertically spaced spacing sleeves 7 mounted on the bolts 8 which pass transversely through the casing and are held in place by the fastening nuts 9. The spacing sleeves 7 aforesaid not only assist in holding the plate 4 in removable position but .cooperate with the bolts and nuts 8 and 9. respectively, in holding the side walls of the quadrant shaped casing rigid.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the signal as applied to the dash board of an automobile but in practice the signal may be attached to the top or side of the body of the car in front of the dash-board and wind-shield or z .5 any other desired point within convenien reach of the driver or operator of the car and may be secured in place by any suitable means other than that shown in the drawings.

The signal further comprises a vertically preferably tubular signal arm 10 which works up and down between the side walls or members of the easing and is connected at its lower end by the side walls of the till coupling 11 or other equivalent means with the inner end of the horizontal member 12 of the crank arm 13, equipped with the usual handle 14 which is grasped of course by the operator in raising and lowering the signal arm. ln Fig. 7 there is illustrated a modification of the operating handle in which 13' is an extension of the horizontal member 12 and ll is the handle. The signal arm, as shown, is provided at its upper end with a, lamp L mounted. in the socket S.

in practice, the circuit through the lamp L is closed to illuminate the same when the signal arm is down or in signal position, as indicated in 4. The current is supplied by the battery 15 and the circuit closed through the circuit wires A and ll and the lamp when the signal arm is down, as above stated, by the following connections: A block 16 of insulating; material, such for in stance as hard rubber, is secured to the lower end ol? the signal arm at a point within the casing, the opposite sides of said block being beveled iiuvardly as shoihp and havinp, cured thereto by screws ll or other cquivrv lent uuaans, the metal contach; 18, adapted to be received by and to engage the upper out wardly inclined portions 19 o't'the metal contacts 20 secured at their lower straight ends 21 by screws or other equivalent means to,

opposite side of an insulating block .22, the lower and of which is received by and socured to a lJ-shapcd clip bolted or otherw'isc icurovably secured, as at 22 to the bot tom wall. oi? the casing l. l fr switch 25 is arranged in the circuit,/hs shown, so that the signal arm may be lowered in the day without closing the circuit through the lamp and illuminating the same, when said switch is open. ll hei'l th: switch is closed, as indicated in the drawings, and the signal. down as shown in i and 5, the current pa from the positive side of the lilattcry 15 and through the circuit wire fl to one of the metal contacts 20 and thence to the acent contacting metal contact 18 and then ti in this point through the circuit wireto the lamp lh. After passing through the la the current passes .or returns to the negative side of the battery through the otl er circuit wire B and metal contacts 18 and respectively, thus estal'llishing a com plete circuit through the lamp and illuminating the same. The circuit wires are of course insulated at all convenient points and especially where exposed and liable to come into contact with the driver or occupant of the car to which the signal. is applied.

' The top or open side of the casing is closed by a curved arc-shaped cover plate 2% provided throughout the greater portion of its length with a central longitudinal slot 25" through which the signal arm works, a packing slrip 26, preferably of leather and provided with a longitudinal slot 2? correspondrnr ,oar

ing and registering with that of the cover plate, being interposed'between the bottom of the latter and the upper edges of the side walls of the casing to prevent any dampness or moisture entering the casing at the sides or the cover plate. The cover plate is removably secured to the casing l by the lugs and screws 28 and 29, respectively, the former being formed at the corners ofthe plate and fitting against the inner faces of the side walls of the casing.

A lia't metal guard member or strip 30 of approximately semi-circular form is secured,

as at 31, to the lower end of the signal arm' The lamp L is inclosed by the casing 32 provided in rear oi the lamp witha plate of celluloid, glass or other suitable trans-- parent material, the lront oi the casing being closed, as shown in Fig. 3 to give a greater reflection. However, if desired, a plate 3% may also be arranged in front of the lamp, as shown in Fig. 6 Oil the drawings, so that the lamp will be visible from the front as well as the rear. The casin is )rovided with a depending metal clip 35 which is formed integral or in one piece with the easing and is adapted to receive and be clamped to the upper end of the signal arm by the fastening bolts and nuts 36 and 3'? or other equivalent means.

The signal arm is norn'ially hcldin upright or vertical position by the clip of resilient metal secured in place by the cross pin 35') which pas es through the inner ends of the side members ll) of the clip or keeper and the sidewa s of the casing and is held in place by the cotter pins 41 or other equiv ale means. y

In the day, the switch is opened so that the circuit through the lamp L will be broken regardless of the position of the signal arm, the latter being normally held up by the clipjor lseeper 38. The operator or driver of thecar, when wishing to turn a corner or turn the vehicle, signifies his intent-ion of doing so by swinging the signal arm down, into the position indicated by Fig. 4, by means of the crank 13, such signals being usually given by movements of the hand and arm'and not being always ohserw able, partirnilarlyby the operator of a following car.

At night, the switch is closed so that the lamp will be illuminated when the signal is down into signaling position, it being unden stood that the circuit is broken and that the lamp is out when the signal arm is returned liltl I maxing on tical position. If desired, al arm may be left down right, to furnish a signal for of following or approaching 1e straight-a-way as well as in ms at corners or going over crossings.

Frothe foregoing description, taken in sonnet ion. with the drawings, it is thought the construction, operation and advans a ny invention will be readily underit out requiring a more extended exchanges in the form,'proportions or details of construction may be to without departing from the prineiples or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in the appended claims,

Having described my invention, what I arm pivctally mounted therein, a lamp at the upp end of the signal arm, a crank for a signal arm either up or down, \UVi'liBd with a transparent plate, e lamp and secured to the upper 'nal arm, a source of electrical this connections for establishing circuit through the lamp whenthe signal arm is down, a switch in the circuit, a cover plate for the top of the casing, said plate provided with a central longitudinal slot throughout the greater part of its length through which the signal arm works and a flat metal guard strip of greater len th than the cover plate, the signal arm, said guard strip working overthe top of the cover plate and serving to exclude dirt, dampness or rain from entering the casing through the slot or opening in the latter.

2. A signal of the character specified comprising a quadrantdike casing closed at the bottom and open at its top or outer edge, a removable cover plate closing the top of the casing, a signal arm pivotally mounted at its lower end in the casing and working be tween the side Walls of the latter, a lamp at the upper end of the signal arm, manually operated means for operating the signal arm, a source of current, connections ineluding a switch for closing the circuit through the lamp when the signal arm is down, a cover plate for the top of the casing, said plate provided with a central longitudinal slot through which the signal arm works and a packing strip interposed between the bottom of said cover plate and the outer edges of the side walls of the casing to prevent moisture or rain from enterin the casing at the sides of the cover plate, said packing strip having a slot or opening corresponding and registering with that of the cover plate. i

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 1 I

' DAVID J. LANEHART.

Witnesses:

' PAUL MEEDING,

WILLIAM SANDS.

secured to and movaible with a 

